Page 52 of Reckless

How the fuck did she come up with the last one?

I turned around to face her. She was looking at my mother, not me. That gave me a moment to look at her in peace. She was wearing a red knee length cocktail dress and the sexiest pair of high-heeled sandal I had ever seen. Her hair was falling down her back in waves. Her parents stood beside her. Doctor Nick was missing.

“Hannah, dear,” my mother laughed. “You are too kind. My son doesn’t deserve it.”

“I agree,” Hannah answered with her most angelic facial expression. “But I’m not a fan of public shaming. He doesn’t deserve that either.”

My mother snorted, no doubt preparing to snap back at Hannah, but Mike made himself useful and placed his hand on Sylvia’s shoulder.

“We should go greet the guests.”

My father waited for them to leave then looked at Hannah.

“Did you just accused my ex-wife of publicly shaming our son by publicly shaming her?”

Hannah just smiled at him.

“Hello, Mr. Hartley. How are you?”

“Old, apparently. A grandfather?” He whispered. “I’m done. No one wants to date a grandpa.”

Hannah laughed her throaty, sexy laugh, and I felt a little jealous that I wasn’t the one to get that sound out of her body.

“You are still a good-looking man, Mr. Hartley. I bet a lot of women wouldn’t mind you being a grandfather.”

My father blushed and I wanted to poke my eyes out. After the divorce he dated women around Hannah’s age, and I sincerely hoped he wasn’t getting any ideas about little Spencer in that twisted sugar daddy head of his.

Harry Spencer obviously thought about the same thing because he cleared his throat and suggested they should go talk to Clem. Hannah left without acknowledging my existence. A week ago, I would be thrilled. That night though? I felt strangely unhappy about it.

“That girl,” my father started when they turned their backs on us. “That girl is a catch.”

“Easy there, grandpa.”

“That’s not what I meant,” he clarified. “I just remembered I caught you two once. She was still in high school. You were making out in the…”

“I remember,” I lifted a hand in the air to stop him.

“You are both grown-ups now. Why don’t you go for it?”

“I don’t want a girlfriend.”

“Today you don’t, but sometimes people change their mind after a while.”

“I won’t change mine. And she has a boyfriend.”

“Bummer. When I saw her with her parents, I assumed she was single.”

Madison walked out of the house, looking around for someone. I waved at her, knowing she would change the subject for sure. She waved back and bolted towards us.

“Hey, Dad.” They kissed and she turned to me. “I was looking for you.”

“What’s up?”

Madison took a long look at Dad who eventually got the hint.

“Still keeping secrets from your old man, I see. I’m going to talk with the Coles. See you later.”

When he left us alone, Madison hesitated for a moment, then blurted out.

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